MANILA, Philippines – Several Philippine corporations welcomed 2025 with appointments to top posts announced last year taking effect.
The appointment of a new generation of executives brings with it fresh visions and strategies aimed at navigating the next chapter of the respective corporations’ landscape.
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) kicked off 2025 with a changing of the guard with Robina Gokongwei-Pe’s retirement after over two decades. She was replaced by Stanley Co, the group’s first CEO outside of the Gokongwei family.
In a post on LinkedIn, Gokongwei-Pe described Co as an innovative man “who knew the business inside out.” He joined RRHI’s DIY segment in 2003 and was appointed its group general manager in 2008. Prior to assuming RRHI’s top job, Co was RRHI’s chief operating officer (COO).
Gokongwei-Pe began the year transitioning into her new role as board chairman, replacing her brother, Lance Gokongwei. Lance, meanwhile, took on a new position as the board’s adviser.
Globe Telecom appointed Cruz as its deputy CEO beginning January 1 as the telco’s long-time chief executive Ernest Cu prepares to vacate the top job.
Prior to his stint with Globe, Cruz led Airtel Nigeria, a leading mobile network provider in the West African country. He also climbed the corporate ladder in Unilever to eventually become CEO and managing director of Unilever Nigeria in 2020.
Cu will remain the telco giant’s president and CEO until the company’s 2025 annual stockholders meeting in April. He will also hold on to chairmanships in various firms, including GCash’s parent company, Mynt.
Globe’s outgoing chief executive began working for the Ayala-owned telco in 2008.
Tides are also changing in the Philippine banking industry, as Aboitiz family scion Ana Maria replaces veteran banker Edwin Bautista as UnionBank’s president and CEO.
Aboitiz-Delgado, the Aboitiz family’s fifth generation heir, started as a management trainee with UnionBank in November 2003. She has since played a key role in driving the business development of various sectors within the bank, including retail consumer finance, institutional banking, customer experience and digital channels.
UnionBank’s new chief executive was also instrumental in its strategic digital transformation initiatives, such as the creation of a digital bank branch model and the enhancement of UnionBank Online.
RCBC is also beginning 2025 with a leadership change as Cariaso began his stint as the bank’s deputy CEO on January 1.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on December 10, 2024, the Yuchengco-led bank said Cariaso’s appointment aimed to boost the bank’s leadership as it shifts towards digital transformation and expansion initiatives.
Before stepping in as RCBC’s deputy chief executive, Cariaso was the bank’s executive vice president and group head of operations.
Cariaso’s appointment came as RCBC’s current president and CEO Eugene Acevedo prepares to retire in mid-2025. Acevedo also served as the deputy CEO of his predecessor, Gil Buenaventura, for six months in 2019. – Rappler.com
